August 26, 2010

BLI Centipede Slithers Its Way Into Stores

Broadway Ltd

Today we received the first batch of Broadway Limited Centipede locomotives. We were immediately impressed by the quality of the casting and detailing. Everything was crisply done and nicely applied. The loco is available in several different PRR paint schemes as well as N de M and the Baldwin Demonstrator.

Broadway Ltd Centipede

The factory installed Paragon 2 sound system is loud and clear but the motor sounds do not stand out as compared to other Baldwin’s we have heard. We also wish that BLI had put more train sounds into the decoder and less barnyard and lumber camp sounds.

Broadway Ltd Centipede

Operationally the loco runs smooth and slow as advertised, the biggest issue is that due to the long wheelbase a modest vertical curve causes the loco to belly out leaving the powered wheels spinning in the air. Also, in order to allow the loco to navigate through tighter turns, BLI has allowed the chassis to articulate which makes it track well but at times it looks very un-prototypical. For example, on a 22” radius curve the loco hangs almost ¾” past the NMRA standard. We understand why the articulation was necessary but you may want to make sure your trees and signals are well clear of the right of way before running this beast!

The interior is well laid out with two large speakers, one fore and aft. There is an impressively deep baffle on each speaker providing for great bass tone reproduction.

On the whole this is a very nice offering from Broadway, the first run was sold out at the time of delivery but due to a high influx of orders BLI planned a second run for sometime next year.